TCAD Dispatcher Honored for Saving Infant's Life

Taney County Ambulance District Emergency Medical Dispatcher Tosha Burns is presented with Handtevy Pediatric Emergency Standards Challenge Coin for her efforts in the resuscitation of an infant in Taney County.

The full release from the Taney County Ambulance District is below:

Emergencies involving pediatrics can be some of the most stressful for paramedics. TCAD Paramedics have taken steps to reduce this stress load and allow paramedics to focus more attention on caring for these vulnerable patients. Several years ago, TCAD implemented the Handtevy Pediatric Emergency Standards system. This system simplifies responses to pediatric emergencies by removing obstacles like length and
weight based medicine. Everything from medication dosing to equipment sizing is calculated using the patients’ age. The Handtevy system has been a success across the country. The system is used in ambulances, hospitals, schools, theme parks and cruise lines. Because of the success of this
system, the creator of Handtevy, Dr Peter Antevy, created the Handtevy Pediatric Emergency Standards Challenge Coin. This coin is presented to any responder who played a significant role in the survival of a child who suffered sudden cardiac arrest.
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In December 2022, TCAD Paramedics Communications Center received a 911 call for an infant with severely labored breathing. Paramedics were immediately dispatched to the residence, located in a very rural part of Taney County. While paramedics were responding, Emergency Medical Dispatcher Tosha Burns determined the patients’ condition was deteriorating and he had stopped breathing. Burns provided the caller with pre-arrival instructions for infant CPR. Tosha continued to give CPR instructions and encourage the caller for over 35 minutes until the arrival of paramedics. 

Paramedics were able to resuscitate the infant and transport him to the hospital where the baby made a full recovery. This miraculous recovery would not have been possible without the outstanding efforts and determination of Mrs. Burns. TCAD Paramedics is proud to present the Handtevy Pediatric Emergency Standards Challenge Coin to Emergency Medical Dispatcher Tosha Burns.